A striking photograph of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake taken during the government’s May Day rally yesterday in Colombo has sparked controversy after it went viral on social media, despite being removed from official channels at the request of authorities.
The image, captured by Lahiru Harshana, a staff photographer of a Colombo-based daily newspaper, shows the President mid-speech with his hands raised and eyes lifted skyward — a moment some interpreted as resembling a religious gesture or a symbolic appeal to a higher power.
In a social media post, Harshana explained that interpretations of a photograph can vary based on personal perspective, writing in Sinhala: “ජායාරූපයක අන්තර්ගතය කියවීම තමාගේ මතය අනූව වෙනස් වේ…” (“The interpretation of a photograph varies according to one’s own opinion”). He added that he was subsequently asked to remove the photo from his social media accounts and other official outlets.
Despite its removal, the photo quickly spread online, becoming a viral talking point among supporters, critics, and observers of Sri Lankan politics. Some praised the composition and symbolism of the image, while others debated its political implications.
Neither the President’s office nor the newspaper has issued an official comment regarding the incident.
